Posts Tagged ‘android vs iphone’

Ever since, October 22nd 2008, the release of Google Android Mobile OS the question that many have been asking is ‘ Is Android the much awaited IPhone killer ? ‘

I truly believe that the future of Android is looking very strong and of course it is going to be much much better than IPhone. That leads to the question ‘ What Android really is ? ‘.

Android is an Open Source Operating system for the Mobile Platform. It is NOT RESTRICTED to only Mobile Phone/Smartphones, which seems to be what majority of the people are seen to believe. By this I mean to say that it can/has the potential to be ported onto a PalmTop, Netbooks, Mini Laptops, PC even. Asus EEEPC 1000H running on Android . While IPhone is restricted to just Mobile formfactor.

Android is Open Source. This meaning the Software licensing is Open , i.e. software is published under licenses that ensure that the source code is available to everyone to inspect, change, download, and explore as they wish and improved by anyone with the right skills. Whereas IPhone isn’t Open Source.

Ever been in an argument with an IPhone user on which is better ?
These are the things you are likely to hear.

‘ T-Mobile G1 doesn’t have MULTI-TOUCH like the IPhone ‘.
Well I would agree with that, but what most of them are not realizing is that with Android that feature is just a Software Update away. T-Mobile G1 is the only android device in the market as of now and it doesn’t have multi-touch feature enabled, YET. But it has been proved by many enthusiasts that the G1’s screen supports multi-touch. Check it for yourself Video Proof of the Multi-Touch on G1 G1 Multi-Touch

So why didn’t G1 ship with multi-touch ? One of the reason/the most probable reason would be because of Apple Patent over multi-touch functionality, for more read here.

‘ T-Mobile G1 doesn’t have the OnScreen Keyboard ‘.
As mentioned, above this feature too is just another Software-Update away. As a matter of fact, rumors has it that it will be released in the next update termed ‘ CUPCAKE ‘. Check out this video of the proposed Cupcake features which is rumored to be released April 2009.
Well come to think of it, the G1 will be having both the OnScreen keyboard as well as the full QWERTY slide out keyboard which will definitely act in Android’s favor. Since not everyone would be comfortable using the OnScreen keyboard. I too would personally prefer the QWERTY, like for example if I am composing a huge mail and the OnScreen keyboard would prove useful for small inputs since it would relieve me from having to slide out the keyboard [ Gotta confess I am really lazy 🙂 ]